Math Blast is a quick, fun, fast-paced math game! Every day starts with a Number of the Day. This is the tool I use to not only recall, reteach and pre-teach but it is my way to start classroom management. Students know the expectations of how to come in and get right to work. I do not have to spend any time waiting for students to get ready. Class starts immediately. And since I include music students are really engaged. I also encourage students to support each other for those struggling learners. This is also a great vehicle to expose students to concepts that I know will show up in state testing so that when we do get to these lessons students have already seen the work. Math Blast’s progression goes from easy to hard on the difficulty scale!

Students use a white board and divide it up as follows:

This space students write in the number of the day.

This section is the factors of the number of the day.

This section the students put the number of the day over 100.

This section students write if the number is Prime, Composite or Square.

Using the fraction, students write it as a decimal and a percentage.

This section the students put the above fraction in Lowest Terms if possible.

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I end Math Blast and lead into my lesson with a See, Think, Wonder. The art is choose always relates to the unit I am teaching. It is a real fun way to get your students to think deeper about a subject without them knowing that they are doing it.

The SEE part is pretty basic thinking, I see….

The THINK part gets them thinking a little deeper. This art makes me think about….

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Concept: A fun chance to apply what they learned. Scavenger Hunts allow those students with solid understanding to push through, high thinkers get a word scramble, and those struggling learners get more one-on one-time. I do not do much of a launch when using this tool as a review!

Scavenger Hunt: I create a list of math problems (+, -, x, /) and answers around the room. Under each answer I have a letter. For each answer I create a 5” x 5” card out of colored paper. On one side I write the answer to each problem, on the backside I write a letter that corresponds to the answer sheet. (hint: I go through the problems and find the 5-8 problems that I know students might have trouble with and make cards for these with a frown face L on the back) Students collect letters that will lead to a word scramble. The word scramble isn’t necessary to complete but it does help keep those students that finish early busy! It is a really fun exercise!

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Talk about what challenges might still be out there, it is a good opportunity to see if you need to re-teach anything before giving an end of the unit test.

The Closing It section of the lesson is very important. This opportunity allows you to bring the class back together and have them make the connection to the learning objective of the day. You should also make sure that you make a connection to the word of the day. This closing gives students the opportunity to make the connection to the launch and they work that they did. It is also another chance to give a quick formative assessment to check for understanding.